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Michele Mouton, known as the ‘Queen of Speed’, made her debut as a driver in the 1974 World Rally Championship, marking 50 years since that milestone. Before becoming associated with the iconic Audi Quattro, Mouton began her rally career as a co-driver in the Alpine A110. Her journey in the world of rally racing began in 1972, when she helped her friend Jean Taibi practice the route of the Tour de Corse. Mouton’s official debut took place at the inaugural Monte Carlo Rally in 1973, where she was the co-driver of Jean Taibi’s Peugeot 304S. Impressed with her skills, Mouton’s father encouraged her to take the wheel and even offered a rally car to showcase her talents in France. In 1973, she participated in the all-female car rally, the Rallye Paris Saint-Raphaël Féminin, before competing in the Tour de France Automobile in the same year, a race she would win in 1978. Mouton honed her driving skills through various rally events before making her official debut as a driver in the WRC in 1974. Despite facing accusations of having an illegal engine during her debut at the Tour de Corse, where she finished 12th driving an Alpine A110, Mouton was cleared of any wrongdoing. She went on to dominate the French and European female categories, winning championship titles in both. The following year, Mouton defended her title at the Tour de Corse, finishing in seventh place and maintaining her status as the French and European female champion. In a surprising turn of events, Mouton teamed up with Christine Dacremont and Marianne Hoepfner to compete in Le Mans, where she secured her first victory in a endurance race in the two-liter prototype category at the 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1977, Mouton joined French rally driver Jean-Claude Andruet to represent Fiat France in the Fiat 131 Abarth. She consistently finished fifth in the Tour de Corse for three consecutive years from 1978 to 1980, showcasing her consistent performance in the WRC. Mouton’s rally career progressed rapidly in 1977, when she achieved podium finishes at the RACE Rallye de España and the Tour de France Automobile, driving the Porsche Carrera RS. In 1978, she won the Tour de France Automobile with the 131 Abarth and finished second in the 1979 French Rally Championship, setting the stage for her next big step.

Mouton, who had recently signed with the new Audi factory team, was ready to make her debut with Audi Sport in 1981, driving the Audi Quattro.

The Audi Quattro, a legendary racing car, was the first four-wheel drive vehicle in the WRC to have over 300 horsepower, becoming an iconic machine.

Due to lack of FIA homologation, the Quattro could only participate in events as zero cars, resulting in missed stage and event victories.

Despite facing electrical issues throughout the race, Mouton managed to secure fourth place at the 1981 Rally de Portugal, winning an impressive seven stages.

At the 1981 Acropolis Rally, Mouton silenced critics who doubted Audi’s decision to hire a female driver, setting fastest times in different stages. However, the FIA excluded the Quattros from the event due to homologation procedures.

A historic moment occurred at the Sanremo Rally in northwest Italy, when Mouton became the first female driver to win a WRC event. This remarkable achievement came in only her sixth outing in the Quattro, surpassing champions Henri Toivonen, Hannu Mikkola, and Ari Vatanen.

Vatanen, who would later become a champion, famously declared before the race: “The day I am beaten by a woman, I will retire from racing.”

Mouton became the most successful female driver in the history of motorsport, nearly winning the 1982 WRC season. Despite ongoing mechanical issues, she emerged victorious in Portugal, Greece, and Brazil.

With the championship within her reach, Mouton faced a tough battle against championship leader Walter Röhrl, a driver for Rothmans Opel, at the penultimate rally in Côte d’Ivoire. Tragically, she received the devastating news that her father had passed away from cancer on the morning of the race.

In an interview with Hagerty, Mouton revealed: “My father died at 7 in the morning and the race started at 8:30. I wanted to go home, but my mother encouraged me to drive. I was leading Röhrl for 1 hour and 20 minutes, but then I lost 1 hour and 15 minutes due to a gear change and encountered more problems. I lost the world championship, but what I missed the most was my father.”

Securing second place in the championship and granting Audi the manufacturers’ championship, Mouton came incredibly close to winning the title. The rally legend achieved remarkable success beyond the World Rally Championship, triumphing over American drivers to claim victory at the 1985 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, with a comfortable lead of over 30 seconds. Demonstrating her exceptional skills, Mouton set a new record time of 11:25.39, even receiving a penalty for driving “excessively fast”. This impressive achievement broke the previous record set by American racing icon Bobby Unser by an impressive 13 seconds. After a brilliant rally career, which included 162 stage wins, 9 podiums, and 4 rally victories, Mouton decided to retire in 1989. However, her passion for motorsport persisted, leading her to co-found the Race of Champions in 1988 as a tribute to the late Henri Toivonen. This commitment to the sport kept her deeply involved in the world of motorsport for several decades. In 2010, Mouton took on the role of president of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, a position she held until her retirement in 2022. Undoubtedly one of the most iconic figures in rally, Mouton left an indelible mark on the sport, setting numerous records and solidifying her status as one of the greatest drivers in history.

© 2024

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